Chapter 33: (Post 9/11 GI Bill)
return to: Eligibility Requirements and Documents Required

Depending on the student’s situation, chapter 33 benefits can include payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, a stipend for books and supplies, college fund (―kicker) payments, a rural benefit payment, and a Yellow Ribbon Program benefit. Chapter 33 differs from other education chapters in that each type of payment is issued separately, with some payments made directly to the school and others directly to the student.

Tuition and Fees
The tuition and fees payment is paid directly to the school on behalf of the student when the school’s enrollment certification is processed.

The tuition and fees payment is prorated by the student’s length of service percentage. It is also limited to the highest per credit hour tuition and the maximum fees charged by a public institution for undergraduate training in the state where the student is enrolled. The maximum in-state tuition and fees are at: www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Tuition_and_fees.htm.

Monthly Housing Allowance
A monthly housing allowance is paid directly to the student at the beginning of each month for the previous month. The housing allowance is prorated by the student’s length of service percentage. Active duty personnel are not eligible for the housing allowance.

The monthly housing allowance paid equals the Department of Defense’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an ―E-5 with dependents and the zip code of the school. The BAH rates are at:
www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html.

Rate of Pursuit
Rate of pursuit applies specifically to chapter 33. It differs from training time, which is used for all other chapters. Schools certify actual credit. VA calculates rate of pursuit by dividing the number of credit (or credit hour equivalents) being pursued by the number of credit considered to be full-time by the school. The resulting percentage is the student’s rate of pursuit.
Examples: If full-time is 12 credits, then rate of pursuit for:
- 7 credits (or credit equivalents) is 58% (7 / 12 = 58%)

The Housing Allowance is paid if the student’s rate of pursuit is more than 50%. Rate of pursuit determines whether a student receives or doesn’t receive the housing allowance. If pursuit is more than 50% the student receives the housing allowance. If pursuit 50% or less the student doesn’t receive the housing allowance.

Distance Learning and the Housing Allowance
Students whose enrollment is exclusively distance learning training are not eligible for the monthly housing allowance. If a student’s enrollment is both distance learning and resident training (standard classroom instruction) and pursuit is more than 50%, then the monthly housing allowance can be paid for the period of residence training and any break periods that meet break pay rules.

Books and Supplies Stipend
The books and supplies stipend is a lump sum payment (each quarter, semester or term attended) paid directly to the student when the school’s enrollment certification is processed. The stipend is prorated by the student’s length of service percentage. Active duty students are not eligible for the stipend.

The books and supplies stipend pays $41.67 per credit certified, up to 24 credits for the academic year (08/01/YY-07/31/YY). The maximum stipend is $1,000 per academic year.

www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary/ - Any veteran who served any active duty time after 9/11/2001 may be eligible to receive Chapter 33 benefits.